U.S. steel mills shipped 8,031,516 net tons in June, a 33.3% increase from the 6,023,524 net tons shipped in June 2020, reported the American Iron and Steel Institute. Shipments rose a slight 0.6% from the 7,987,038 net tons shipped in the previous month. Shipments for the first half of 2021 totaled 45,969,876 net tons, an […]
Weekly raw steel production by U.S. mills dipped slightly, losing momentum last week. The average utilization rate was 84.8%, while production totaled 1,872,000 net tons in the week ending Aug. 7, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). The slip, though negligible, was the first decrease in six weeks as U.S. mills continue […]
Weekly raw steel production by U.S. mills contracted slightly for the second straight week. The average utilization rate was 84.7%, while production totaled 1,869,000 net tons in the week ending Aug. 14, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). The dip, though minor, was the second in as many weeks after domestic production pushed […]
U.S. raw steel production eased in June to 7.90 million net tons, according to recently released American Iron and Steel Institute data. Although down 2.7% from the month prior, June marks the second-highest production level seen since January 2020 when 8.44 million tons were produced by domestic mills (May 2021 was a 16-month high). June production is up 2.45 million […]
By Greg Wittbecker, Advisor, CRU Analysis Over the past few months, we have seen a number of short-term strike actions around North America: a Montreal four-day strike in May and the Charleston International Longshoremen Association (ILA) filing strike notices at the same time. While both industrial actions have not resulted in extended work stoppages, they […]
By Greg Wittbecker, Advisor, CRU Analysis The $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill promises to deliver about $550 million in actual new investment. The breakdown of that investment looks as follow. Aluminum and steel have superior sustainability advantages and should exploit them. Clearly, the steel industry is cheering the passage as much as the aluminum industry. Both […]
Final Census data shows that total foreign steel imports increased 16% from May to June, reaching 2.93 million tons. As stated in our preliminary import analysis, this is now the highest monthly import level of 2021, surpassing the April high. The last time monthly import levels exceeded this rate was January 2020 when 3.16 million tons […]
Steel prices have moved steadily and predictably upward week after week for the past year. But Steel Market Update’s check of the market on Monday and Tuesday delivered some mixed signals for the first time since August of 2020. Hot rolled coil prices moved up again by another $30 per ton, falling just short of […]
JSW Steel (USA) Inc. has increased base prices for plate by at least $120 per ton ($6 per cwt). The U.S. subsidiary of India’s JSW Group said the price hike was effective immediately for all new, non-contract orders. “This increase applies to our as-rolled and normalized plate products. Our full published extras will also remain […]
By CRU Principal Analyst Erik Hedborg, from CRU’s Steelmaking Raw Materials Monitor Iron ore has continued its fall by registering a $15 /dmt drop in the past week after steep declines at the end of last week, followed by a slight rebound on Monday and Tuesday. Chinese buying interest has subsided quickly as the number […]
U.S. mills are producing steel at nearly full capacity. The average utilization rate for U.S. mills reached 85.0% in the week ending July 31, while raw steel production totaled 1,876,000 net tons, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Weekly output rose for the fifth straight week, up 0.4% compared to the week […]
By Greg Wittbecker, Advisor, CRU Analysis Workers walked out of Rio Tinto’s Kitimat, British Columbia, smelter on Sunday, July 25, after failing to secure a new contract. The union voted 100% in favor of the strike. This smelter was operating at 383,000 metric tons/year. Some familiar themes are at the center of the labor dispute. […]
By CRU Senior Analyst Helen O’Cleary U.S. refined demand continues to impress through the traditionally slower summer months, with market contacts reporting still-strong off-take under long-term contracts into August. We hear that many consumers continue to take the higher end of their contracted metal tonnage, with some still buying additional spot quantities. A further increase […]
Prices for four of the seven steelmaking raw materials tracked in this SMU analysis increased from June to July, with all products following large gains in previous months. Over the last 30 days, coking coal prices increased 16% and busheling scrap prices rose 5%. Zinc and aluminum prices increased less than 1%, while shredded scrap remained flat and pig […]
Spot tons of flat rolled steel are still in short supply, report respondents to Steel Market Update’s check of the market this week. Any tons that are available command a rising premium. Flat rolled prices increased by another $10-40 per ton, with some reporting hot rolled offers as high as $1,900, though HRC saw a […]
Preliminary Census data shows that total foreign steel imports are up 15% from May to June, reaching 2.90 million tons. This is now the highest monthly import level of 2021, surpassing the April high of 2.64 million tons. The last time imports were this high was January 2020 when imports totaled 3.16 million tons. July import licenses through […]
The average utilization rate for U.S. steel mills reached 84.6% in the week ending July 24, while domestic raw steel production totaled 1,868,000 net tons, keeping the upward momentum going for the fourth straight week, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Weekly output was up 0.5% compared to the week prior when […]
SSAB Americas aims to increase plate prices by $150-200 per ton ($7.50-$10 per cwt) effective immediately. The $150-per-ton price hike applies to as-rolled mill plate and coil as well as to cut-to-length plate more than 72 inches wide, the steelmaker said in letters to customers on Monday, July 26. The $200-per-ton increase is for all […]
By Greg Wittbecker, Advisor, CRU Analysis U.S. Representative Scott Peters (D-CA) and U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) unveiled their FAIR Transition and Competition Act of 2021 on July 19. The stated objectives of the bill were: • Recognize the costs incurred by U.S. companies in producing cleaner products due to emissions-related laws and regulations • […]
Hyundai Steel has made what is probably its last offer for imported plate for 2021 delivery to Gulf Coast ports, according to market participants. And there might be only one more offering to West Coast ports, sources said. Plate made by the South Korean steelmaker is being offered to Houston and New Orleans – the primary Gulf Coast […]
Flat-rolled steel prices continue to shoot upward – with no signs of the summer doldrums, the chip shortage or fears of a correction blunting their momentum. U.S hot-rolled rolled coil prices now stand at $1,850 per ton ($92.50 per cwt), up $30 per ton from a week ago. Cold-rolled coil and galvanized base prices notched similar […]
Steel Market Update does not forecast steel prices. That’s a fact that can sometimes get lost in all the pricing data we publish. Please don’t let the good news and happy headlines you’ve been reading in SMU every week make you complacent. It’s convenient to listen to the many readers quoted in this newsletter who […]
The average utlization rate for U.S. steel mills reached 84.1% in the week ending July 17, while domestic raw steel production totaled 1,859,000 net tons, up for the third consecutive week, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Weekly output was up 0.4% when compared with the week prior when production was 1,852,000 […]
May apparent steel supply rose 340,000 tons over April to 9.11 million net tons, according to the latest U.S. Department of Commerce and American Iron and Steel Institute data. This is now the highest suppy level seen since January 2020, surpassing the March 2021 recent high of 8.96 million tons. May supply is up by 2.51 million […]
Steel Market Update is pleased to share this Premium content with our Executive members. For information on how to upgrade to a Premium-level subscription, email Info@SteelMarketUpdate.com. Steel demand continues to outpace supplies in the U.S., leading to one price increase after another. Buyers are struggling to source enough steel to meet their customers’ needs and […]
This report examines the import share of tubular and long products shipments. Imports’ share of total tubular products rose to 47.9% in May, up from 46.6% in April. Total tubular imports rose by 6.4% month on month, while domestic shipments ticked up only slightly by 0.4% during the same period. Overall supply was up as […]
Steel prices rose another $35-50 per ton this week with hot rolled and coated products surpassing notable new benchmarks of $1,800/$2,000. Steel Market Update’s canvass of the market this week puts the average HRC price at $1,820 per ton ($91/cwt) and galvanized at $2,030 ($101.5/cwt). Buyers continued to voice concerns about late mill shipments and […]
Pipe and tube producers have notified customers this week of further price hikes in response to strong demand and higher costs for the flat-rolled and plate substrate they use to make their products. On Tuesday, July 13, Chicago-based Atlas Tube raised prices on all new orders for mechanical, hollow structural section (HSS) and piling products […]
U.S. mills produced steel at an average utilization rate of 83.6% last week, the highest rate in more than a decade as they scramble to keep up with the strong demand in today’s economy. Raw steel production by U.S. mills totaled 1,852,000 net tons in the week ending July 10, up 0.5% compared with the week […]
Final Census data shows that May foreign steel imports totaled 2.53 million tons, down 116,000 tons compared to the month prior, a 4% decline. Although May was down from the month prior, levels remain strong compared to recent months; April imports had reached the highest level seen since July 2020. Current June import licenses through this week […]